JUNE 20.

Commodore PALMER:

The admiral has sent a pilot for one of your vessels. Shall I send him over? We have a few letters for your fleet. All quiet here and below.

JAMES ALDEN,

Captain.

Admiral FARRAGUT:

Please open fire with your mortars only at 11 p. m., and cause firing at exactly 10 a. m. Throw your shell as nearly as possible in the center of the works.

BANKS,

General.

JUNE 28.

General BANKS:

I sent the Genesee, a powerful gunboat, at daylight this morning to Donaldsonville, with Lieutenant Harwood on board.

ALDEN,

Captain.

JUNE 28.

Captain ALDEN:

The commanding general requests that you spare your tug to take ammunition from Springfield Landing to Donaldsonville. Please answer.

RICH'D B. IRWIN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

General BANKS:

About 6,000 contrabands here. Please send a steamer for them. Have ceased firing on account of troops being in direct line of fire.

JAMES ALDEN,

Captain.

JULY 7.

Colonel IRWIN:

The Hebe will be at Essex's berth at sunset. Admiral gone down the river. I follow at once on Saint Mary's.

C. EMERSON,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

JULY 8.

Admiral FARRAGUT:

Bands will play, and we shall fire a salute of one hundred guns from right to left at noon; will be glad to have you participate.

N. P. BANKS.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN C. ABBOTT,

Second Lieutenant Thirteenth Conn. Vols., Acting Signal Officer.

Lieutenant GEORGE R. HERBERT,

Acting Adjutant, Signal Corps.

Numbers 7. Report of Lieutenant Milton Benner, Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, Acting Signal Officer, of operations May 23-June 5.

HDQRS. SIGNAL TELEGRAPH TRAIN, DEPT. OF THE GULF,
Springfield, Landing, June 10, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations of the signal telegraph train from May 23 to June 5, inclusive:

On the 23rd ultimo, in accordance with instructions from Major-General Augur, the wire was run out on the Springfield road from Springfield